Dengu brings more concern after Chikungunya

  Even as the State is battling with cases of chikungunya, the Directorate of Public Health (DPH) has issued an alert for dengue fever following the outbreak of the disease in northern parts of the country.

As both the diseases — chikungunya and dengue — share common factors and are caused by the same mosquito, the Directorate of Public Health is holding a review meeting at Tuticorin on Wednesday to take stock of the situation in 10 southern districts, including Madurai.

Joint Director of Public Health S. Elango said on Tuesday that the State Government had put the health machinery on alert and asked the district health authorities to step up surveillance.

"We have given instructions to the health staff to investigate all cases of fever and evaluate its intensity. If there is any suspicion, the cases should be reported to the DPH immediately," Dr. Elango said. Health Secretary V.K. Subburaj and Director of Public Health P. Padmanabhan would monitor the progress of `Operation Chikungunya' project.